Is there any reader that could confirm or inform whether the British forces, after the occupation of Malta in the beginning of the 19 century, started recruiting people on the island to form a regiment made up of Maltese and detailed to serve abroad?

Alexander Dumas wrote historical novels, which he described as relating true facts in some details as opposite to historians who do not go into such minutiae.

In one of his novels that was researched and published in association with Claude Schopp, who inherited his writings, there is reference to the kingdom of Naples, one of Bonaparte's conquests. Besides other islands, the isle of Capri in the bay of Naples and just in front of the city was occupied by Britain. It was described as impregnable.

The King of Naples was first Joseph, Bonaparte's brother, who was transferred to Madrid in the role of King of Spain in 1808. To replace him, Bonaparte sent General Murat Joachim, his brother-in-law who became Joachim 1st Napoleon, King of Naples.

The first task undertaken by Murat was to capture Capri. The battle was terrible with unaccountable victims; one of the regiments that surrendered to the French was called Royal Malta Regiment. It is this that made me write this letter.

Capri, under the command of Hudson Lowe, was in fact conquered by the French under the command of General Jean Maximilien Lamarque.

From the report of this episode it seems that, yes, Britain had recruited a regiment of Maltese that was assigned to reinforce the defence of Capri. Since this letter refers to a novel, could there be someone in a position to confirm or otherwise the existence of the Royal Malta Regiment and possibly its role in defence of Capri?